NC House bill aims to reduce housing costs, but Mecklenburg County towns claim it would create opposite effect
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Huntersville joined other Charlotte-area municipalities Tuesday in opposing state legislation that they claim strips their ability to plan for growth.
House Bill 765 would take away control from elected officials in the zoning process. In the town's opposing proclamation, leaders claim it would 'create a patchwork of state mandates and ban common-sense local land-use practices leading to unregulated and incompatible development.'
Cornelius passed a similar ordinance Monday, and in Stanly County, Albemarle did so last month.
Huntersville town leaders considering two residential zoning changes
The goal of the bill is to make housing more affordable, but Huntersville Mayor Christie Clark argues that it has the opposite effect for fast-growing towns like hers. It proposes that cities with populations below 124,999 must allow subdivisions equal to 5 units per acre as of right and not by conditional zoning for subdivisions over four lots.
'It would probably contribute to gentrification in parts of town, we do not want that to happen,' she said.
Monday night, Cornelius leaders cited the potential erosion of pedestrian-friendly streets.
'Cornelius currently has its own street standards for new development. The legislation requires all local governments to utilize NCDOT standards, which may be smaller cross sections and may not require sidewalks and/or bike lanes.'
Commissioner Alisia Bergsman says the bill strips away the voice of local residents.
'Huntersville and towns across North Carolina deserve the right to plan for growth in ways that reflect local values, infrastructure capacity, and public input,' she said. 'HB765 is a threat to that basic principle, and we urge the General Assembly to reject it.
Huntersville added the proclamation to its agenda at the beginning of Tuesday's Board of Commissioners' meeting.
On Tuesday, the bill was re-referred to the state Committee on Finance.
Filed on April 3, its primary authors are Reps. Jeff Zenger (R-Forsyth), Mark Brody (R-Union), Matthew Winslow (R-Franklin), and Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg). Part of Cunningham's district extends into Huntersville.
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